Exit blog
Posted by Rabia Bana on August 26th, 2010
The end is approaching; my time in Botswana is nearly over. The past 4 months seem to have flown by in the blink of an eye. Before coming to Botswana I had always felt very detached from discussions of HIV and AIDS. Coming from a global health educational background, HIV and AIDS were always discussed in and out of the classroom. After living in Botswana for 4 months and actually seeing the faces of AIDS and talking to them and working with them; I have a much deeper understanding of the multi-factorial nature of this disease. There is no real existence of an HIV/AIDS sector because the effects of HIV are integrated into every aspect of life.
Although I was brought on as a Project Assistant for Teen Clubs, my role quickly was adapted to working as much as possible with youth affected by HIV and trying to help them in whatever capacity possible to make the slightest improvement to their quality of life. In this way I was able to dabble in a number of different projects and gained a broader understanding of the work that Holy Cross Hospice does. From organizing a Culture Camp – a 3 day retreat that in the midst of Western influence gave youth the opportunity to reconnect with their roots and traditions – to facilitating the enrolment of out of school youth into skills-based training programs, I feel that I was able to contribute to the work of the hospice while learning a great deal along the way.
Aside from the working aspect, living in Botswana has been a learning experience in itself. Being a foreigner I was often treated like a celebrity and received lots of attention, which was understandable at the beginning. After some time though, it just felt strange as I was starting to feel more and more like a local but those who didn’t know me continued to treat me like a foreigner. Saying hello to vendors on the side of the street has become somewhat of a hobby of mine here. These people are usually warm and friendly. They’re surprised to hear ‘dumela’ from a foreigner but it brings the most amazing smile to their faces when you make the effort to learn and speak Setswana.
I have been fortunate with my travels here and have had the opportunity to see some wonderful things. From the Okavango Delta in Maun to Table Mountain in Cape Town, each trip has been a delightful adventure. Travelling on a student budget, I’ve actually spent a significant amount of time on a bus – on weekends of course 
My next trip will be back to Canada. Leaving Botswana is going to be very bitter-sweet. Although I am looking forward to resuming life back in Canada, the experiences I have had here and the people I have met will stay with me forever. I can say without a doubt that this has been one of the most unique experiences I have had so far.
Go Siame Botswana
